2025

Penny McFadden Slingerland has been an offshore fishing icon since the 1980s.  She & her crew started fishing in Port Aransas in the 1980s in a 35’ Viking called the Penny Mac.  Her boat was known as the funniest fishing team in the Gulf, and Penny stood center stage as always, happy & spreading cheer. Her unmistakable laugh could brighten any day, even on slow, hot fishing days. Her fishing career got really serious when she & her husband hired Capt. Bill Hart.  Capt. Bill Hart was an initial inductee to the TXSWFHOF in 2006. 

From POCO in Port O’Connor to Veal Brothers in South Padre to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, to Belize, they caught fish wherever they went.   

– In 1984, Penny became the first woman to ever win the Poco Bueno.  In subsequent years, she placed 3rd and 5th. 

 - She placed 1st, 2nd & 3rd over the years in TCBT, Texas Champion Billfish Tournament, and largest blue marlin twice. 

 - She won Dean Hahn twice. 

 - She placed 2nd & 3rd in TWAT, Texas Women’s Angling Tournament. 

 - She won 1st and 2nd in the Deep Sea Roundup and the largest blue marlin twice, and most billfish once. 

 - She placed 2nd and 3rd in TIFT. 

 - She was the Muycheapo champion one year (funny tournament created by Port Aransas members on the way to Poco Bueno). 

 - She caught a grand slam in 1983, believed to be the first by a lady in Port Aransas 

 - She has caught over 1600 sailfish over the years. 

She has been instrumental in establishing women anglers in a sport that was, at the time, dominated by men.

A proven champion time & time again, Penny McFadden Slingerland made her legacy as a tiny lady standing slightly over 4 ft., reeling in huge marlin.   

It is only fitting that this Texas offshore fishing legend be inducted into the Texas Saltwater Fishing Hall of Fame. 

 Sadly, I did not grow up fishing.  I did however, find the lure, the passion, and the thrill of what the lakes, rivers, streams, bays, and oceans have to offer as an adult. Living in Texas, I began developing my thirst for more during a Redfish Rodeo. Yes the camaraderie was fun, the fishing was fun, but I wanted more. I wanted to learn about all aspects of fishing. I began to focus on tackle choices, fish safety, and conservation. I was hooked!. A few years later, I directed a Fishing Gifts Camp. This is a week-long camp for girls and boys ages 6-12, who have an interest in fishing. During day 1, we focus on fish and tackle identification along with bag limits for fish in our area. Day 2 is review from the previous day along with safety and casting with casting contests. Day 3 is spent at a marine aquarium, fish hatchery, and nature center operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife called Sea Center Texas.  They were exposed to the process of helping to produce thousands of Trout, Redfish, and Flounder as well as catching slot and bull reds from the facility. Day 4 included freshwater fishing for bass and bluegill with focus on the correct way to handle fish. Over the years, approximately 100 children have learned the importance of protecting our marine resources. Day 5 is highlighting the week and an awards ceremony for knowledge, skills and sportsmanship. 

     Soon after, I  joined a phenomenal group of IWFA women. I have been a member of the International Women’s Fishing Association for twenty years. This organization was established in 1955 as a non-profit corporation to encourage conservation, support education, promote angling competition among women anglers, and offer release only  tournaments. During those years, I have held the offices of Secretary, Conservation Chair, Sponsorship Chair, District Representative Chair, Membership Connection Chair, 2nd Vice President, and Junior Angler Chair. While each of these serve a different area, I feel as though they all play an important role in making the marine science world more sustainable. As Conservation Chair, it was important for me to share new and ongoing legislation relating to marine ecology pertinent to states whether  North, South East or West. As Sponsorship Chair, I strived to keep us connected with new technology and vendors willing to help us with product. As Director of District Representatives and what is now known as Membership Connection, my current responsibilities include the fulfilling task of creating a bridge for approximately 150 women all over the world. It gives me great pleasure to know that 12 of our members live in Texas!

     In 2018, I was instrumental in designing a Junior Angler Program. Our mission statement is for IWFA members to provide opportunities for young girls ages 6 to 18 to learn about conservation, develop their angling skills, and participate in a monthly award competition under the mentorship of an IWFA sponsor. Our job as a sponsor is to lead by example, teach, and support all their fishing efforts. Their annual awards consist of Top Saltwater Angler, Top Freshwater Angler, Top Species Award, and a Service Award. In the last few years, we have held virtual competitions during the summer or fall. Our Service Award is given to a young lady that has participated in a project that gives back in some way. Our last winner helped Wounded Warriors while fishing offshore. I am proud to say we currently have 17 active anglers- even world record holders-  and some who have moved into the adult program. They live in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Iowa. Of those 17, 7 live in Texas!

     Presently I am Membership Connection Chair, a sponsor to 4 junior anglers, Guatemala Billfish Tournament Co-Chair, and International Women’s Fishing Association Scholarship Trust Chair. The Scholarship Trust is a 501c3 is a non-profit organization that provides financial aid to marine science graduate students. We give at least $30,000 a year to applicants who qualify. The candidates must be matriculated at a recognized university pursuing a course of study leading to a graduate degree in the marine sciences. The best part is everything I do involves young women and women from Texas! 

     I was born in Lansing, Michigan and moved to Moss Point, Mississippi when I was four years old. I did a little bit of “cane pole” fishing in the bayous before moving to Seabrook, Texas in 1968. I attended Sam Houston State University where I met and married my husband fifty two years ago. I initially worked at a dental office, substitute taught school and became a paramedic. I raised our children before returning to school to become an RN at forty. I joined a team at St. Luke’s Hospital in cardiology in the Cooley building.  I eventually retired my nursing career when my husband was elected to the State Legislature.  As a State Representative, it required a lot of travel to Austin. The good news is I could spend more time fishing – and competitions seemed to be the best excuse! To the best of my recollection below are most of my accomplishments.

2001 – Texas Lady Angler tournament  3rd Place Heaviest Stringer

2006 – Islamorada Light Tackle Tournament 3rd Place Team

2008 – Louisiana Slam Tournament 2nd Place 

2011 – Casting for Cats Tournament (not catfish) 1st Place Artificial and Grand Champion

2012 – Casting for Cats Tournament 1st Place Artificial and Grand Champion

2012 – Louisiana Slam Tournament 3rd Place Team

2014 – Casting for Cats Tournament 2nd Place Artificial and Grand Champion Team

2014 – Islamorada Light Tackle Tournament 3rd Place Team and Top Bait Angler

2015 – Casting for Cats Tournament Top Artificial Angler and Largest Snook

2015 – Islamorada Light Tackle Tournament 1st Place Angler

2015 – Belize Bonefish Tournament 1st Place Angler

2015 – Awarded Congressional Record 114th Congress House of Representatives 22nd Congressional District presented by Representative Pete Olson.

2015 – Presented  the Cathy  Williams Memorial Trophy

2016 – Presented the Cathy Williams Memorial Trophy

2016 – Islamorada Light Tackle Tournament 1st Place Angler and 1st Place Team

2017 – IWFA Guatemala Billfish Tournament 3rd Place Angler

2017 – IWFA Islamorada Light Tackle Tournament 2nd Place Angler and 1st Place Team

2017 – Texas  InterGulf Fall Classic 2nd Place Team

2018 -Casting for Cats Tournament 1st Place Team

2019 – Casting for Cats Tournament 1st Place Team

2022 – IWFA Islamorada Back Country Tournament 1st Place Team

2023 – Presidential Women’s Virtual Fishing Challenge 2nd Place Team

2023 – IWFA Guatemala Billfish Tournament 2nd Place Angler

Other Annual IWFA Awards

Top Plug Award – won 3 times (given for the highest total points for all IGFA and IWFA species caught on plug – maximum of 3 times)

Sailfish Award – won 3 times (given for the highest points accumulated in a year for catches and releases- maximum of 3 times)

Largemouth Bass (given for the highest points caught and released in a year)

Spotted Seatrout – won 3 times (given for the highest point catch and release totals in a year – maximum of 3 times)

Olsson Billfish Award (given to the angler who has the highest point totals for billfish with a minimum of 30,000 points and at least 3 species)

Fleming Award – won 3 times (given each year to the angler with the most tournament points)

Women in Fishing Podcast –  Interviewed by Chris Woodward

Pictured in Back “R” Down book by Richard Gibson.